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Wednesday, 3 June 2015

'Behind The Text’ 19 ’So Few Come Out’

Behind The Text’ Part
19_’So Few Come Out’

‘in blood stepp'd in so far’ (Shakespeare:
‘Macbeth’

Hi,

‘So Few Come Out' was published in 2014
and is the 15th
chronological novelin the ‘Jonas Forbes Saga’. The title
comes from a rhyme from a couple of centuries ago bewailing the high attrition rate
of European venturers in West African areas surrounding the Bay of Benin. When
the Reader reaches the end of this gory tale they might think it refers to the
destruction of the characters.

Jonas Forbes
is persuaded to hunt for a surgeon lost in the midst of the Biafran War in 1969
Nigeria. The young man is the son of Reverend Joshua Obasi. However, it’s not
easy to get into the middle of a civil war (and, even more importantly, out
again!). The UK Foreign Office cooperate, provided he assesses for them the
situation as peace approaches – in this they will definitely be short-changed.

The action
shifts between Jonas, blundering his way around in a particularly nasty conflict
to the despair of Vanessa (now his wife) along with others in London, and
various units on the Federal & Biafran sides, especially the guerrilla
leader, Shaidan, terrifying the opponents of the dying Republic of Biafra. Both
sides engage in war crimes and it’s largely the civilians who suffer. Shrugged
off by UK diplomatic staff ( such as Seymour Dudleyand Jerome Milligan) Jonas plunges into the
unknown with his usual enthusiasm and almost immediately finds himself a prisoner
of the Federal forces and then of Shaidan himself. DS John Wyatt employs
contacts to find Jonas but is always one step behind. Towards the
end Jonas shows strange signs of ‘sympathy’ / ‘weakness’. Could these be the
effect of being married to Vanessa? You may find the answer on Book 16.

This book
deals with one of the tragedies of the 20th century but there are some
admirable characters: Private Dialo, so sick of the war that he deserts; Sgt.
Athie, who saves a child from the miseries of war but then hunts down Dialo because
those are his orders; Superintendent Kemdirim helps a policeman from afar, out
of solidarity; Algana Alabi, a victim of war; and Dr. Jide Igbokwe who suffers
for answering to his vocation. However, such are out-numbered by those for whom
war releases the vilest behaviour and those who watch the world disintegrate
and do...... not enough to stop it.

This is one
of the more depressing novels in the series. Why did I write it? I can’t answer
that except to say I just had to. Researching this book showed how little some survivors
still want to admit what happened, especially if they might be held responsible.
Could the likehappen today? Take a look
around. I think it’s already here.

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About Me

I've retired from a career mainly in teaching / training. My main subject was History, although I did teach English, Sociology, Psychology & EFL at various times.I've also worked as an analyst / programmer in Training computer software 20+ years ago. I'm married with one daughter & 2 grandsons. I live near Chichester, Sussex in England and my hobbies include Family History.

During the last 20 years much of my time has been spent on writing 'The Wanderer' trilogy' (4 Historical fiction novels in print) & the 'Jonas Forbes Saga', 16 thrillers set 1954-73. I've done extensive historical research all behind these books. You can find out more about them at www.cuthan.blogspot.com.